encore018

have a garage sale, do something to get the extra 50 bucks. I cant think of a reason why you CANT go over budget.

SpazAtack

So the build looks like this:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
(from Amazon w/ free shipping): $58.05

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103649
$139.00

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128392
$79.99

XFX GX260XADJF GeForce GTX 260 Core Edition Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150361
$179.99

XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233029
$39.99

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151171
$24.99 (I'll be using a crappy DVD drive I have left over until this one becomes available)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136073
$59.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231193
$64.99

SeaSonic SS-500ET 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151069
$65.99

durch

Ok, making small modifications to your original build. I also think that AMD X3 720BE with a Biostar 790GX would be a solid choice, but it's going to add about $50 to your original E5200/P45 build. Not sure if you really want to be making cuts in other departments, but I'll leave that decision up to you. Anywho, here's my build keeping the E5200 which I think will work just fine for you (overclocks to 3.7GHz, just did it myself 1 month ago).

$70 - Intel E5200
$150 - Gigabyte EP45-UD3L motherboard with Corsair 550VX PSU (after $10 instant combo savings, $10 instant savings from promo code EMCLTLR37, and $30 MIR from Corsair)
$60 - Western Digital AAKS 500GB
$185 - EVGA GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition and OCZ Reapers 2x2GB DDR2 800 (after $15 instant combo savings, and $45 in MIR from OCZ and EVGA)
$26 - Xigmatek HDT-S1283 (after $5 MIR)
$54 - Antec Three Hundred bought from your local Microcenter (includes tax) to save on shipping
$24 - LG DVD Burner
-------
$569 Subtotal (after $80 in MIR)
$9 S&H (at least to my zipcode)
-------
$578 Total

So there you go. Saved you $94 with some improvements and a few cutbacks where extra performance just isn't needed. Let's start with whats the same. Same hard drive, same CPU, same motherboard, same case. If you don't have a Microcenter near you, adding the case to my cart tacked on an extra $14 S&H which isn't a huge deal.

I replaced your PSU with the better Corsair 550VX that when bought as a combo and with the promo code (and MIR) is an insanely good deal at $50. I replaced your XFX GTX 260 with the EVGA superclocked which is just as good if not better and comes with CoD5 and a great combo deal on the OCZ Reapers. Reapers are good memory, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Not saying they're the best but it'll work just fine. Picked out another SATA DVD burner since yours is out of stock. Finally, I replaced your Dark Knight with the S1283. This is the only cutback I made, because the S1283 will work just fine with the E5200. You simply don't need the power of the Dark Knight so might as well save $14. Up to you though, the Dark Knight does move more air and has bolts instead of push pins so it might be worth it to you. I will admit push pins are a PITA.

Now I read you complaining about MIR's. I understand they're a slight PITA, but they really aren't that big of a deal and to turn down $80 in savings because you don't want the extra 15 minutes of effort is just silly. I have never had a MIR not make it to my doorstep, and I've done several dozen. People that don't get them don't follow directions, it's as simple as that. Print the rebate form before you buy. Cut out the UPC. Fill it out correctly. And make a photocopy before mailing it. Pretty simple.

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SpazAtack

I like your build somewhat more, but would there be any significant difference between the AMD build and the build you made?

durch

Well I don't see a price with shipping for the AMD rig you put together, so it's hard to compare their respective values. But the architecture of the AM3 CPU's is on par with the Intel 45nm CPU's. When you compare the E5200 to the X2 7750BE, they trade blows. So there's no doubt that the X3 720BE is a superior CPU, and it should get substantially higher benchmark scores from it's third core, but in games and most app's you probably won't notice a large difference. Is it worth the extra money? Hard to say without a total cost in your post, add it all up with shipping and discounts/rebates and we can make a better decision.

But one thing I can tell you is that you'll want a motherboard with a SB750 southbridge. It overclocks AM2+ and AM3 CPU's muuuch better. I recommend the combo deal with the X3 720BE and the Biostar 790GX motherboard for $220 total.

So $220 for a 720BE and a 790GX versus $170 (and $10 off a Corsair 550VX) for an E5200/P45. Hard choice no doubt, depends on how much you're willing to spend. You'll see slightly better performance from the 720BE but honestly I don't think it's very noticeable.

EDIT: I'm trying to make the same decision myself for a rig I'm building for my brother, I'm starting a new thread to get more opinions.

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SpazAtack

Well the AMD rig is a tad more expensive...
No rebates and whatnot: $743.02
vs.
Intel Build (No rebates): $680.93
So the Intel is significantly cheaper for me...